PetSafe Wireless Pet Containment System PIF-300 Review

PetSafe Wireless Pet Containment System, PIF-300The PetSafe Wireless Pet Containment System PIF-300 has definitely stood the test of time. No matter how many electric dog fences hit the market, this PetSafe wireless fence continues to earn top ratings year in and year out.

In addition to it being a very cost effective alternative to a traditional above ground fencing, with no wires bury you can have this portable dog fence up and running in less than an hour.

Since 1991 PetSafe has been setting the bar high when it comes to pet containment systems, both wireless and in-ground. Their love of animals and dedication to helping pet owners is reinforced by their ongoing commitment to safe pet products and top notch customer satisfaction.

This detailed review will tell you everything you need to know about the PIF-300, including how the key components work, how to install it and what other consumers think about this portable pet fence.

Petsafe Wireless Pet Containment System PIF 300

The PIF-300 is PetSafe’s top selling wireless pet containment system and it’s safe and effective for any dog over 8lbs.

In addition to that, here’s what else this fence has to offer:

5 adjustable levels of static correction plus a beep only mode

Covers up to 1/2 an acre; with the addition of a second transmitter you can expand your coverage to almost 1 acre

Completely portable

Over Correction Protection ensures your dog never receives an electric stimulation for longer than 30 seconds

Low battery warning

Ideal for multiple dog households — can handle an unlimited number of dogs providing they each have their own receiver collar

Multiple compatible collars so you can match the size and temperament of all your dogs

Excellent customer service

On top of that, you get PetSafe’s ‘limited lifetime warranty’ which means that if anything breaks in the first year you get the replacement part free of charge. For the remaining lifetime of your fence, you’ll get a significant discount on any part that you need replaced.

As with any wireless DIY dog fence, setting up and PIF-300 is quick and easy. You won’t even need to hunt around for tools because everything you need to set this system up and start training your four legged friend comes in the box as follows:

Transmitter with power adapter

Receiver collar fitted with short (1/2″) prongs

1 RFA-67 battery

1 set of long (3/4″) prongs — depending on where you buy your fence the long prongs

may have to be purchased separately

50 boundary training flags

Test light tool

Detailed operating and training guide

First Impressions Of This PetSafe Wireless Dog Fence

Although it’s not right for every type of yard, when you combine its quick easy set up and complete portability with a solid dependable system that’s packed with safety features, it’s tough to find another wireless fence under $300 that offers more value for your money!

If you’re looking for a safe and effective pet containment system that you can take with you when you travel and can have up and running in less than an hour no matter where you are, the PIF-300’s track record makes it worthy of some serious consideration.

What Dog Lovers Have To Say

The PetSafe PIF-300 is incredibly popular and the vast majority of reviews are overwhelmingly positive with a huge volume of extremely satisfied dog owners.

I spent many hours researching the Petsafe wireless fence reviews for the PIF-300 to get an overall feeling for why people either like it or don’t like it.

What dog lovers especially liked:

Quick set up

Easy to use

Completely portable

Most dogs learn to respect their new containment boundaries in just a couple of days or less

Each collar on the system can be adjusted independently so that it’s appropriate for the size and temperament of the dog wearing it

Receiver collar automatically turns off if the transmitter stops working

Very low maintenance

The manual and training guide are detailed and clear

Excellent customer service

On the flip side of the coin, like any product this wireless dog fence isn’t without consumer complaints. But considering the sheer number of reviews available online, the complaints were few and far between and some of them apply to any wireless fence, not just the PIF-300.

Here’s what some dog lovers didn’t like:

You’re limited to a circular shaped boundary

The boundary is inconsistent

It doesn’t work well in yards with lots of trees or metal sheds

Those issues apply to all wireless dog fences, not just the PIF-300 so if any of them give you cause for concern you can read my article detailing how a wireless dog fence works. In addition to explaining the limitations of a wireless fence, that article will also give you an alternative that may work better for your situation.

But in the end — it’s clear that the overall majority of people are impressed by all the features this PetSafe wireless fence offers and by how effective it is at keeping their furry friend safe.

Without a doubt the PIF-300 gives you a lot of bang for your buck and if you’re looking for a solid reliable wireless system in that costs less than $300 you’ll be hard pressed to find one better than the this wireless pet containment system!

Installation Details For The Petsafe PIF 300 Wireless Fence

One of the things people love about this wireless pet containment system is how quick and easy it is to set up. Simply plug in your transmitter, set up your boundaries, fit your dog’s receiver collar and you’re ready to start training.

Because this PetSafe transmitter is one of the major components I want to spend a bit of time explaining how you can set it up to make just the right containment area for your canine buddy.

About the size of a one gallon paint can, the IF-100 transmitter is the largest and heaviest transmitter of any wireless dog fence on the market. But despite that, many people still have no problem throwing it in the car and taking this portable dog fence wherever they go.

Once you’ve found an appropriate location setting it up is a snap. Just plug it in, turn it on and adjust the following controls:

Boundary Switch: Controls the size of your containment area and can be set to ‘high’ or ‘low’ depending on how much area you want to cover

Boundary Control dial: Determines how far away from the transmitter your dog’s receiver collar will activate

That’s all there is to setting up this PetSafe instant fence…easy peasy right? 😉

If you want to see the PIF-300 installation in action check out the short video below. But before you do, I want to point out that the manual they refer to in the video shows only 4 levels of static correction on the collar.

That applied to an older model which has since been upgraded; the collar that comes with the PIF-300 now has 5 levels of static correction plus a beep only training mode.

What Do You Need To Know About Using This PetSafe Wireless Fence Collar?

The PetSafe PIF-275 receiver collar comes standard with this wireless system and the strap is adjustable for neck sizes of 6″-28″. Weighing in at about 3 oz, the receiver unit on the collar measures 1.5″ long X 2.25″ high X 1.5″ and is comfortable for dogs 8 lbs and up.

It’s safe in all kinds of weather and whether you call it waterproof or water resistant, the bottom line is that it can get wet but submerging it in the water for long periods of time can cause damage.

The major downside to this PetSafe wireless dog collar is that it’s not rechargeable; it uses the RFA-67 disposable battery and most people who wrote a review on the PIF-300 said that the battery lasts anywhere from 2-3 months.

Although the manufacturer recommends using only PetSafe proprietary RFA-67 batteries many people reported good results with Fido’s Fences, a generic brand that’s available online at Amazon.

Fido’s Fences batteries are completely compatible with the PIF-275 receiver collar and cost about half as much as the PetSafe proprietary batteries. I’ve included details for all your battery options in the Accessories section of this review.

Whichever brand you choose to use, many people say it’s a good idea to stock up on batteries when you buy your fence so that you have them when you need them.

One of the good things about this collar is that it has a low battery warning so you’ll see a flashing red light when it’s time to change the battery. I like that feature because I’m a big fan of visual reminders, especially when it comes to important battery operated devices. 😉

The material this collar is made out of is durable but how long it lasts will depend on how rough your pet likes to play. But even if you have one of those dogs that loves to play hard and roll around in the dirt, the receiver unit is completely transferable so when the time comes you can simply slip it off the old strap and onto the new one.

The collar is fitted with two stainless steel contact points that must touch your pet’s skin so that they can deliver a static correction when necessary. Out of the box, the receiver collar is equipped with 2 short (1/2″) contact points but longer probes (3/4″) are available if your dog is of the extra furry variety.

Most users reported that the short probes were long enough even for dogs with thick fur so you may want to try the standard probes that come with the collar before buying the long ones because the 3/4″ probes have to be purchased separately.

In addition to the beep only training mode the PIF-275 has 5 adjustable levels of static correction so you’ll have no trouble finding just the right one for your four legged friend’s size and temperament.

As an added safety feature, there’s a plastic cap that has to be removed to access the correction level button. This ensures that you can’t accidentally hit the button and increase or decrease the level of electric stimulation your pet is receiving.

Another important feature is the Over Correction Protection which ensures that no matter what, your dog will never get a static correction for any longer than 30 seconds. So on the off chance that your dog runs through the hidden barrier, the electric stimulation won’t go on indefinitely. It will either time out after 30 seconds or quit once your pet returns to the containment area.

An extra transmitter allows you to add about 1/2 an acre to your dog’s containment area. 2 transmitters create overlapping circular fields and would give you a total coverage area of just under 1 acre.

The IF-100 transmitter is the largest on the market, measuring 9″ wide x 9¼” tall x 8¾” deep and weighing around 8 lbs

Your fence kit comes with 50 flags which will cover up to 3/4 of an acre. If you’re adding and extra PetSafe transmitter and extending your containment area, you’ll need more boundary flags for training. Each bundle of 50 will give you an extra 3/4 of an acre of coverage.

Tip:Your local lawn and garden or hardware store will probably have some sort of flag that will work just as well and might end up being cheaper than the RFA-2 flags.

PetSafe Wireless Replacement Collars:

As long as each dog has their own collar you can have as many dogs on this system as you want. Here are your options for additional collars:

The PIF00-12918 comes standard with PetSafe’s newest wireless system, the Stay and Play and it’s completely compatible with the PIF-300.

The great thing about the Stay and Play collar is that it’s rechargeable. In addition to that, it also has 5 adjustable levels of static correction and is safe and effective for dogs as small as 5 lbs.

Dog Collar Replacement Batteries:

You have a few options when it comes to RFA-67 batteries for your pet’s receiver collar:

PetSafe Battery Replacement Plan: When you subscribe to this plan you get a bit of discount on PetSafe’s proprietary RFA-67 batteries. You also get the convenience of auto shipping which helps ensure that you never run out of batteries. You can find more information on PetSafe’s battery replacement plan here.

Here’s one other dog fence accessory you might need for the PetSafe PIF-300:

PIF-300: What’s The Bottom Line?

What else can I say about a wireless system that’s been around for so long and continually ends up at the top of everyone’s buy list?

Although it’s not right for every shape of yard, when you combine its quick, easy set up and complete portability with the many built in safety features, it’s tough to find another system that will offer more bang for your buck!

Our dogs are important to us and PetSafe definitely designed this system with that in mind. Any way you slice it, it’s easy to see why this wireless electric dog fence truly does offer freedom and safety for your dog and peace of mind for you!

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